Web feeding mechanism



Sept. 4, 1934. E. H. UNKLES WEB FEEDINGMECHANISM original Filed Marh 8, 1950- 4 sheets-sheet 1 @paw 94M,

`Sept. 4, E. H. UNKLES WEB FEEDING MECHANISM original- Filed March a, 1930 4 sheetssheet 2 Sept. 4, 1934. E. H. UNKLEs WEB FEEDING MCHANIYSM 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 original Filed March s, 1950 lNVENTOR EaWaPd/ldes Patented sept. 4, 1934 UNITED STATES WEB FEEDING MEcnmsM Edward H. Unk'les, Woehawken, N. J., assigner to Trans-Lux Daylight Picture Screen Corporation, New York, N. Y., a corporation of ADelaware i Application March 8, 1930, Serial No. 434,182

, Renewed January 25, 1934 1 Claim.

`My invention relates to a novel and highly eflicient web feeding arrangement wherein the feeding mechanism is positioned adjacent that 'side of a projection field toward which the web ils moving-and which is intermittently and positively 'lil -actuated to feed or pull the web.

-Various' other features, advantages and characteristics of my invention will become apparent V'from the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings. My invention resides in the web feeding or "pulling arrangement, combinations and features of construction o-f the 'character hereinafter described and claimed.

For an understanding of my invention and for an Villustration of one of the many forms thereof, -reference is to be hadv to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure A1 is a perspective view of a printing `device which has apparatus associated therewith in accordance with my invention;

Figs. 2 and 3 are vertical sectional views, partly in elevation and; partly broken away, showing parts of the .printing device and my novel apparatus;

Fig. 4 is afragmentary plan view, partly in lsection and partly broken away, of a part of the mechanism shown in Fig. 1;

' V Fig-'5 is a vertical sectional view, partly in elevation and partly broken away, of a part of the mechanism shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 6 is a plan view of web feeding or pulling Amechanism as` constructed in accordance with my invention;

7 is a vertical sectional view, partly in 'i9 lelevation and partly broken away, and is taken on the line 7-7 of Fig. 6; and

Fig. 8 is a side elevational view of the mechanism shown in Figs. 6 and 7. Referring to Figs. 1-6, 1 represents a support- .i'n'g member from which the spaced plates 2, 3, 4

upstand Disposedbelow the member l is a suitable motor M which operates a vertically extending shaft 5 carrying a lowergear 6, Fig. 1, and an upper gear 7, Fig. 4.

'50 'Tlie gear '7 meshes with and drivesa gear 8 ro- 55 .'12 are herein shown.

. `The shaft 10 is rotatable in bearings in the 'plates 3 and 4 between Which,said shaft 10 carries a type wheel 13 having characters, asV the letters ofthe alphabet and numbers, distributed Bda-round the periphery thereof. The wheel 13`is (Cl. 17E- 42) freely slidable along the shaft 10 but, by a key 14, is constrained for rotative movement therewith. Coactable with the type wheel 13 is an inking roller 15 to which ink is fed by a roller 16, inl: being supplied to the roller 16 in a suitable manner, as well understood in the art. 'I'he rollers 15 and 16 are supported on a suitable frame 17 with which the type wheel 13 and said rollers 15 and 16 are movable as a unit in either direction longitudinally of the shaft 14.

The shaft 14 extends beyond the plate 4 and carries a ratchet wheel 18 with which coacts a pawl 19 serving as the armature cf suitable coil structure 20.

The aforesaid gear 6 meshes with and drives a gear 21, Fig. 1, rotatable with a shaft 22 having a shaft 23- disposed in alinement and associated therewith, the shafts 22 and 23 being connected by suitable frictionl clutch mechanism of which the members 24, 25 and 26 are herein shown, Fig. 1, the shaft 22 being suitably supported in a bearing in the plate 2 and the shaft 23 having .a bearing in the plate 3 and in a standard 27 upstanding from the supporting member 1, Fig. l.

Carried by and rotatable with the shaft 23 are the cams 28, 29 and 30, Figs. 1, 2, 3 and 4, the cam 28 being carried by that section of the shaft 23 between the plates 2 and 3 and the cams 29 and 30 being carried by that section of said shaft 23 between the plates 3 and 4.

The shaft 23, at its end immediately adjacent the standard 27, carries a. disk 31 having faces 31a, 31a spirally arranged with respect to the shaft center and terminating, respectively, in radial sections 31h, 31h. Coactable with the disk 31 is a Y-shaped lever 32, Fig. 2, having surfaces 32a and 32h with which the aforesaid disk sections 31b, 31h coact in succession.

'I'he lever32 is pivoted on a shaft 33 mounted in bearings in the plate 3 and standard 27. Carried by the shaft 33 is an amature 34 coactable with suitable coil structure 35, Fig. 1. 'I'he shaft 33 'is biased in a clockwise direction, Figs. 2 and 3, by a spring 36 and, for limiting rotative movement of said shaft 33 inv both directions, an arm 37 is carried thereby, one end of said spring 36 being connected to said arm 37, said arm 37 being alternately coactable with adjustable stop members 38, 38a carried by the plate 3, Figs. 2 and 3.

The cam 28 comprises cam faces 28a and 28h, Figs. 1 and 5, utilizable in succession to rock a lever 39, oscillatory movement 0f which may be limited by a stop member 40. Lever 39 is carried by and movable with one end of a shaft 41 mounted in bearings in the plates 3 and 4 between which, said shaft 41 carries a plurality of spaced arms 42 having a platen or presser bar 43 secured to their otherwise free ends. The bar 43, arms 42 and shaft 41 are biased in a clockwise lil direction, Figs. 2 and 3, by a spring 44 whereby the lever 39 is biased in a counter-clockwise direction, Figs. 1 and 2, against one or the other of the cam surfaces 28a or 2 8b.

'Ihe cam 29, Fig. 3, comprises cam faces 29a and 29b utilizable in succession to rock a lever 45 having an elongated slot 45a which receives a pin46 projecting from the plate 3, said lever bein'g biased in a clockwise direction, Fig. 3, by a spring 45h. The lever 45 carries a lateral pin 47 utilizable as hereinafter described and has a surface with which coacts a pin 48 carried laterally by one end of a lever 49 secured to and oscillatory with a member 50 rotatably mounted in the plates 3 and 4.

The member 50 extends through the plate 3 where it carries a lever 51, Figs. 1, 4 and 5, having stepped surfaces 51a and `51h coactable in succession with a pawl 52 pivoted on a disk 53 carried by and rotatable with a stub shaft 54 mounted in a bearing in the plate 3. The shaft 54 carries a pinion 55 which rotates therewith to drive a gear 56 freely rotatable on a member 57 projecting from the plate 3.

The pawl 52 is biased in a clockwise direction,

Fig. 5, by a spring 58 connected thereto and to plate 2. 'I'he shaft 60 carries a gear 61 which 68 and 69 coactable, respectivelywith the rackA meshes with and is driven by a gear 62 carried by the aforesaid shaft 9.

The cam 30, Fig. 4, comprises cam faces 30a and 30h utilizable in succession to reciprocate a rack member 63 mounted for free reciprocatory movement in the plates 3 and 4. To this end, said rack member 63 carries a laterally projecting member 64 serving as a cam follower for one or the other of the cam surfaces of cam 30. Member 64 is connected to one end of a rod 65, the other end of which is connected to a spring 66 leading to and connected to the plate 3. By the construction last described, the rack member 63 and cam follower 64 are biased from right to left, Figs. 1 and 4.

Disposed beside the reciprocatory rack member 63 is a xed rack member 67. Pivoted to an arm of the frame 17 are side-by-side pawls members 63 and\67, said pawls beingv biased toward said rack members, respectively, by the respective springs 70 and 71, Fig. 2.

Carried by and oscillatory with the member 50 are spaced arms 72 to which a bar 73 is connected at the otherwise free ends thereof. The

' described as extending laterally from the lever 45.

Secured to the aforesaid frame 17 for movement therewith is a sleeve 77 slidable on a rod 78 fixed in the plates 3 and `4. Pivoted to the "sleeve 77 is one end of a lever 77a, the other end of which is pivoted to one end of a lever 79`having its other end suitably pivoted below the plate 1. In a suitable manner not shown, thellever 79 is biased in a counter-clockwise thereby are constantly tending to move to initial position immediately adjacent the plate 3.

As illustrated in Figs. 1, 2 and 3, a web W l 'of paper or other suitable material, either transparent, semi-transparent or opaque, extends in the direction of the arrows from a suitable supply roll, not shown, and passes between the printing wheel 13 and the platen 43. In a manner hereinafter described, the web yW is intermittently fed or moved by i. e. past and with respect to the printing wheel 13.

Mechanism of the character hereinbeforede' scribed is well known to the art as a Dow-Jones 4 printer. In such mechanism, the web W, between the printing wheel 13 and the supply' roll, is more or less loose and therefore is not under great tension. In general, the operation is as follows: A l

Assuming that the frame 17 together with th thereby-carried printing wheel 13 and inking rollers are in ltheir initial position, i. e., that' position wherein they are most closely adjacent the plate 3, the motor M is placedin operation to rotate the shaft 5 constantlyand at uniform speed. As a result and'due to the intervening gear mechanism, the shafts 9, 60 andv 22 ar constantly rotated at uniform speed.

Through. the intervening clutch mechanism'l; comprising themembers 1l and l2, the shaft 9 imparts rotative movement to the shaft 10, rotation of the latter being discontinued as de sired by action of the pawl 19 upon the ratchet 18. 'Ihis control is effected by the operator who 110- energizes the coils 20 in correspondence-with that character which' is'tobe first printed-on the web W. To this end, the pawl 19 is vibrated under operator control by the coil .structure 20. the shaft 10 rotating in step with the shaft 9 115 until the selected character on the printing wheel 13 comes into printing position whereupon the pawl 19 is brought into such relation with respect to the ratchet wheel 18 that rotative movement of the shaft 10 is temporarily discontinued. 123i When the printing wheel 13 has'athus been' rotated to bring the desired character print-Y ing position, the coils 35 are energized whereby the armature 34 is attracted andthe shaft 33 moved in a counter-clockwise direction, Figs. 2 125 and 3. The lever 32 partakes of similar counterclockwise movement and by movement of its sections 32a and 32h permits counter-clockwise rotation, Figs. `2 and 3, of shaft 23 through an angle of 180 degrees, said shaft thus rotating '1N under the influence. of shaft 22. 'As one result of the aforesaid rotative movement of shaft 23, the cam surface 28b of cam 28 is caused to coact with the lever 39 to rock the same in a clockwise direction, Figs. 1 angL, 135" wherebythe shaft 41 is similarly oscillatedf' the platen or presser bar 43 given an; impulse from right to left, Figs. 2 and 3, whereby Ethe ad,- jacent section of theweb W is thrust into engagement with that character on the' p'rint ing 140 wheel 13 which has previously been selected.l 4As the cam surface 28h passes to that position which the cam surface 28a is shown as occupying in Fig. 5, the spring 44 becomes effective to return the presser bar 43 to its normal position as shown 145 in Figs. 2 and 3.'

As another result of the aforesaid4 rotation of shaft 23, the cam 29,*at its cam surface 29h,

Arocks the lever 45 in a counter-clockwise-direc wheel 13 is in printing position, the member 76 is positioned otherwise than as shown in Fig. 3 and, therefore, not in the path of the member 47. Accordingly, suchcounter-clockwise movement' of leverl 45 is not accompanied by move- `ment of the elongated slot a with respect to the pivot `46. It results, therefore, that, under the conditions just noted, movement of the lever 45 under the control of cam 29 is ineffective in so far as any control on `the herein described mechanism is involved.

As another result of the aforesaid rotative movement of shaft 23, surface 30a of cam 30 by coaction with the cam follower 64, imparts a cycle of reciprocation to the rack member 63, whereby the latter is suddenly mo'ved from left to right,

Fig. 1, under the influence of said cam surface 30a and then suddenly in reverse direction under the influence of spring 66. As a result of the reciprocatory movement of the rack member 63, a step `of movement is imparted to the pawl 68 whereby the frame 17 together with the printing wheel 13 and associated inking rollers are given a corresponding step of movement fromleft to right, Fig. 1, and, accordingly, the printing wheel 13 is moved into its next printing position where it is ltemporarily held by action of the holding pawl 69 upon the rack member 67. Each time that the frame 17 is thus moved toward the right, Fig. 1, the lever 79 moves therewith thereby storing energy in the spring that coacts with the latter.

The various cycles of operation hereinbefore describedV are repeated each time that a character is to be printed on the web W, the operator controlling energization of the coils 20 to cause the shaft 10 and printing wheel 13 to rotate successively into the various selected positions and the printing wheel 13 being stepped successively from left to right, Fig. 1, after each character is After a line or a part of aline has been printed, or at any other time as may be desired, the operator, by control of the coils 20, causes the shaft 10 to `move into and temporarily remain in the position illustrated in Fig. 3 wherein the member 76 isinterposed in the path of the pin 47 which, as stated, extends laterally from the lever 45; when the shaft 10 is in this position, a blank space of the printing wheel 13 is opposite the platen 43.

Accordingly, when the coils 35 are next energized to effect rotation of shaft 23 through an angle of 180 degrees, the cam -29 functions as hereinbefore described to rock vthe lever 45.` Due, however, to the control exercized by the member 76 upon the pin 47, the lever 45 swings in a 'counter-clockwise direction substantially about said pin 47 as a center, the elongated slot 45a being provided to permit this action. As a result, the lever 49, due to engagement between the pin 48 and lever 45, is swung in va. clockwise direction, Fig. 3, to impart similar movement to the shaft 50.

As one result of the aforesaid movement of shaft 50, the bar 73 is elevated since, as stated,

'the aforesaid arms 72 connect said bar 73 to the shaft '50. When the bar '73 is thus elevated, the

pin 74 partakes of similar movement, Fig. 2, and, as a result the pawls 68 and 69 are swung on their pivots and disengaged from their respective rack bars 63 and 67 whereby the lever 79, under the influence of itsjspring which has been energized by movement of the printing wheel 13 from left to right, Fig.. 1, swings from right to left,

Fig. 1, to move the frame 17 together with the printing wheel 13 and associated inking rollers toward the left, Fig. 1, to the initial position of these parts.

As'another result of the aforesaid rotation of shaft 50, the lever 51 is swung in a clockwise direction, Fig. 5, to disengage the surface 51b thereof from the pawl 52. The latter, thereupon and under the influence of spring 58, moves into engagement with the ratchet wheel 59 whereby the shaft 54 is connected to the constantly rotating shaft 60. Rotation of the shaft 54 causes similar rotation of the pinion 55 and gear 56, the motion of the latter being utilized in accordance with my invention and as hereinafter described to impart movement to the web W.

Movement of the aforesaid cam 29 and shaft 23 occurs quickly, but the time interval during which the bar 73 remains elevated is sufficient to permit return of the printing wheel 13 to its initial position as just stated and is sufficiently short to permit return of the lever 51 into substantially theposition shown in Fig. 5 before the pawl 52 has moved through an angle of 360 degrees. Accordingly, as well understood in the art, the pawl 52 engages first with the surface 51a and then with the surface 51b so as to make but one complete revolution each time that the lever 51 is rocked in a clockwise direction, Fig. 5.

In accordance with my invention, the web W is moved through a projection eld or zone, or with respect to an aperture where a light beam coacts therewith to produce, upon a suitable screen, images ofthe characters previously printed` by the printing wheel 13 and now on that section of theweb W within said projection field or aperture. The mechanism thus utilizable in accordan'ce with my invention is operated intermittently by the motor M and may assume any one of a variety of forms, .one only of which is herein illustrated and described for purposes of explanation of my invention.

As shown on the drawings, the aforesaid plates 3 .and 4 have supplementary members 100, 101 projecting rearwardly therefrom and suitably secured thereto, as by screws 102. As illustrated particularly in Figs. 6, 7 and 8 the member 100 is shown as carrying a plurality of stub shafts which project fromone side thereof. said stub shafts carrying the respective gears 103, 104,105 and 106, the gear 103 meshing with'the aforesaid gear 56 of the printing mechanism fand the gear 106 being carried by and rotatable with a shaft 107 suitably journaled in the members 100, 101 at the ends thereof removed from the printing mechamsm.

'I'he shaft 107 has web-pulling or feeding rollers 108 and 109 suitably secured thereto for rotative movement therewith, the periphery of" each of said rollers preferably beingserrated or rough- 135 ened and said rollers being spaced apart a distance somewhat less than the width of the web.

.If desired, additional web-supporting rollers 110 and'lll may be secured to the shaft 107 between the aforesaid rollers 108 and 109.

-As shown particularly in Figs. 7 and 8, the members 100 and 101 are provided, respectively, with depending sections 100a and lOla, the latter supporting a shaft or member 112 to which are secured spaced hubs 113 and 114 having arms 145 113a and 114a projecting therefrom, respectively. The arms' 113a and 114a, adjacent their free ends, carry the respective idler rollers 115 and 116, each equipped at its periphery, if desired, with a band 117 of soft rubber or other similar material. The 150 idler rollers 115 and 116 are disposed inline with the respective feed rollers 108 and 109 and are suitably biased into engagement therewith, as by the respective springs 118, each wound on the member 112 and having one end secured thereto, the other end of one spring 118 engaging the arm 113a and-the other end of the'other spring. 118 engaging the arm 114a whereby each idler roller isbiased'toward its adjacent driving roller.

Supported by the members 100 and 101 are the spaced plates 119 and 120, said plates being suitably secured at their flanged sides to the respective members 100, 101, as by the screws 121. As shown, the web W, beyond the platen 43, passes vbetween the plates 119 and 120 andv then is extended over the rollers 108 and 109, the idler A rollers 115 and 116 exerting pressure on adjacent web sections and holding the same in engagement with the rollers 108 and 109, respectively.

To facilitate passage of the web between said plates 119 and 120, the latter, at the entrance end thereof, may be downwardly curved as indi.- cated at 120a, Figs. 2 and 3. l If desired, the-plate 119 may have a section 119a projecting forwardly beyond the plate 120. Further, as illustrated particularly in Figs. 6 and8, the plate 119 may have rearwardly projecting sections 11912, 1195 disposed above the idler rollers 115, respectively, and serving to protect the peripheral rubber bands 117 from deterioration by heat produced by the light source of the projection system.

The plate 119 isiormed with an aperture 122, Fig. 6, whereby the lines of printed matter defined or framed thereby may be suitably illuminated to obtain images on a suitable screen of such printed matter. If desired, light maythus be passed to the framed section of the web Was disclosed in my copending application Serial No. 325,551, le`d December 12,1928. j l Assuming that the web Whas been extended between the plates 119, 120 and between the driven and idler rollers as illustrated on the drawings, the operation is as follows:

Each time that the operator positions the shaft 10 as shown in Fig. 3 and then operates the coils 35, the printing wheel 13 is returned to its initial position as hereinbefore described. At the same time and also as hereinbefore described, the shaft 54 is rotated through an 'angle of 360 degrees lbecause being connected to the shaft 60 by the pawl 52 and the ratchet wheel 59. Due to such rotation of the shaft 54,1the train of gears shown in Fig. 8 are operated to rotate-the web-driving rollers 108 and 109 whereby the web is moved a predetermined distance through the projection eld,.

and by and with respect tothe printing wheel 13. As a result and by the rollers 108, 109, some of the printed matter on the web W is withdrawn from the projection eld and at the same time some of the more recently printedmatter is introduced into said projection eld; simultaneously, and by the same rollers 108 and 109, an unprinted section of the web W is positioned along the path of the printing wheel 13.

The action just described is effected' each time that the operator energizes the coils 35. Due to this action, the web-feeding rollers 108 and 109 are intermittently connected to the constantly rotating shaft 5, or equivalent, power from said shaft, in the example shown but not necessarily, being also obtained to rotate the printing wheel 13 to its various selected positions and to move the same step by step longitudinally of the shaft l0 from left to right, Fig. 1.

As hereinbefore stated, the plate 119 is provided with the aperture 122 for framing that section of the webW which is to -be illuminated at any given time lfor projection purposes. The plate 120 cooperates with the plate 119 and serves as a backing plate forthe latter .or as a support for the web W as it passes through the projection field. It shall be understood that the herein described plates 119 and 120 constitute but one of the many forms of arrangements which may be utilized in accordance with my invention for web-supporting and framing purposes.

It shall also be understood that the mechanism herein described as comprising the gears 103, 104, 105 and 106 for imparting motion to 'the web driving 'rollers 108, 109, orequivalana'constitutes but one of the many formsl pf webfeeding or pulling mechanisms utilizabl in accordance with my invention and that other equivalent arrangements may be utilized as desired.

As herein disclosed particularly in connection with my aforesaid application, the proj :tion is of a character known to the art as reflecting or opaque. With projection of this character, the web W, ordinarily, is of opaque paper, light from any suit-able source passing thereto and being reected thereby. It shall be distinct y understood, however, that my invention is not to be limited to a projection system lof anyll particular type and, more particularly, that my invention is not to be limited to a projection system of the reflecting type. As well, the web W' may be transparent or semi-transparent; the projecting light beam passing therethrough for image-forming purposes and not being deiiected as herein described.

Still further, it shall be understood that my invention is not to be limited to printing mechanism of the vtype herein illustrated, namely, a Dow-Jones printing device, since certain broad and important features of my invention are applicable to other types of printing mechanisms or to other arrangements for forming characters or the like. l 2

While the invention has been described with respect to a certain particular preferred example which `gives satisfactory'results, it will be understood by those skilled in the art after understanding the invention, that various changesand modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention and it is intended therefore in the appended claim to cover allsuch changes and modifications.

rWha-t is claimed as new and desired to be secured by Letters Patent is:

Mechanism of the character. described con*- .prisingY means dei-lning a. projection aperture, 

